The conference that begins today in Dubai is not expected to be a calm one. The 28th world climate meeting was preceded by controversies and almost personal statements. The fact that the COP is chaired by the Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, CEO of Adnoc, the Abu Dhabi oil company, has put the world event in a different light. Conflict of interest of the leader manager? Partially yes. If only for the four million barrels of oil a day produced by the United Arab Emirates.
The BBC has published some secret documents according to which the organizers of the COP would use bilateral meetings in the coming days to reach agreements for further sales of oil and gas.
In spite of everything, Al Jaber he said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the success of the Conference. We are hosting "the most important COP after the Paris Agreement" he added and the numbers (at least) prove him right: 198 countries represented and 70 thousand delegates. They will miss the American President Joe Biden and the Chinese one Xi Jinping. Pope francesco he had to withdraw for health reasons, and it would have been the first time for a Pope at an event on the climate. The Holy See, however, will be represented by the cardinal Pietro Parolin. For Italy the prime minister will be present Giorgia Meloni
The global context in which we find ourselves a Dubai is equally restless. Two ongoing wars with countries involved in the energy market generate anxiety.
Al Jaber also hoped that COP28 will be the multilateral platform that brings good news to the world. The world already suffers enough from polarization and division.
The appeal of António Guterres
After around 30 years of meetings at the highest levels, there is now a need for pragmatism. It is much more than a necessity, which the Secretary General of the United Nations has made himself the interpreter of António Guterres: “I appeal to political leaders globally, who must assume their responsibilities regarding climate change to save the planet.” Decarbonization is always relevant.
Since COP 2015 in Paris, where the objective of limiting the increase in the earth's temperature to below 2° C was set, few summits have had concrete effects. The climate crisis is concrete and incontrovertible. It makes both industrialized and developing countries pay prices. Isn't it also a question of Western leadership?
The asymmetry of the disasters caused by climate change should lead between now and December 12th (closing day of the COP) to a new global Agenda. Once again the main objective is to reduce the weight of fossil fuels in the world economy and push for the energy transition. High lens, fogged by coal, oil and natural gas which remain the main sources of energy. In the East and West there is a mix of strategies and financial capital that threaten the credibility of these summits.
In the last two Conferences of Glasgow and Sharm el-Sheikh i papers finals reiterated the commitment to reduce fossil fuels: –43% to 2030. The West still consumes 70% of it. Of course, but a country like India - just to mention one of those that should fight against greenhouse gases - indicated 2070 as the year by which it would achieve climate neutrality. An eternity, not contemplated by any study read in recent years. India has world-acclaimed scientists and Nobel Prize winners. For their large country are they gazelles or turtles?
Record temperatures and financing: two extremes to consider
In the sessions of the Conference, topics that revolve around economic systems and the main players in the production of goods and services will be explored in depth. “Everyone must have the opportunity to contribute and everyone must be held accountable and held accountable,” it was said on the eve.
As ? We look forward to seeing it. Meanwhile in 2022 the CO2 was higher 50% compared to the values of 1750, the year taken as a pre-industrial parameter by the UN World Meteorological Organization, in a very harsh document. “This means that we are going in the wrong direction,” commented the Secretary of the Organization Taalas Petteri. Is he wrong?
Another crooked direction is that of financing. Precisely in view of COP28, theUNEP– the UN Environment Program – wrote that the financing gap for climate adaptation has increased between 194 and 366 billion euros per year”. Not only that, funds to developing countries have decreased by 15% in one year.
Among the issues in Dubai there is - last but not least - the creation of the "Loss and Damage" fund, to compensate the communities most affected by climate change. How many of the 198 delegations will be sensitive to opening their own treasure chests? In the drafts circulated in recent days, no figures or timescales are indicated. A hole, even if there have been voices asking for money only from the industries. In twelve days of meetings some solution to the open and somewhat yellowed issues can be found.
